Loch Gairloch
[Go here if you missed part 1 of the Scotland postcards.]
Our luck with weather continued throughout our time in Gairloch. I couldn’t ask for anything nicer than the cool breezes and partly sunny skies we experienced.
We stayed at the Shieldaig Lodge, a former hunting lodge turned hotel. I felt a bit like a character in Nancy Mitford’s Highland Fling as I wandered through sitting rooms like this one with the bay window, this one with the coat of arms, or this little library where we enjoyed tea (more on that later).
Here Steve looks out over the Fairy Lochs. We were told at the lodge that this was a fairly easy walk, so we set out shortly after we arrived. It soon became clear that we’d need more time and energy, so we turned back. The next day we were determined to reach the lochs, but despite what all the travel guides said, it was fairly rough going–rocky terrain alternating with muddy bogs, and very steep in places. We had at least four moments of false hope when we thought we’d almost reached the plateau only to find there was SO MUCH MORE ground to cover. This view was well-earned, I tell you! (Going back down was even harder, but we won’t dwell on that…)
We enjoyed views like this (and easier paths) on our Flowerdale Glen walk.
Another view of Loch Gairloch.
I’ll wrap up by offering this post-dinner selfie taken on our last evening at Sheildaig Lodge. The pictures were so goofy, and we were laughing so hard, that the owner came out and asked if we would like him to take the photo. (We must have been making a spectacle of ourselves.) As you might imagine, his photo featured the lodge much more prominently.
Click HERE to learn more about Gairloch from Graham Grieve at My Voyage Scotland.
Stay tuned for postcards from our walk to Chastleton House in the Cotswolds!
